City of Silver Discussion Topic

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

Introduction

Hello, all!

As you may have read here, I am currently working on a new PowerPoint-Based game. This program takes advantage of the "custom action block" function in Microsoft Office PowerPoint to create a point-and-click game similar to the Mata Nui Online Game (MNOLG).

Of course, those of you who know me understand I don't usually keep my promises. Super Smash Bros. FREE FOR ALL has been in development for two years running, and I have no Flash code to show for it, and my epic, The Specter's Last Dance, has been canceled. However, in researching point-and-click puzzle game Myst, I had a real facepalm moment.

I cannot do this alone. I need graphic designers; assistant programmers; a story team; sound and music recorders; and, perhaps even voice actors. And, since few of my friends have any of those talents (save Artemis Centauri, Ghost, and Scoddy, who have accounts here anyway), I am reaching out to you.

So, do you have ideas? Skills? Offers? City of Silver is a non-profit Point-and-Click, and there is no pay. (Plus, I'm thirteen and saving up for a car. No available cash that I'm willing to give up.) However, you do get to help create an expansive game, all within the boundries of PowerPoint.

Staff

- The Spectral Mask: Directer, Head of Story Team, Programmer, and Level Designer.
- Olorin: Story Team, Programmer, Level Designer.
- Artemis Cretauri: Story Team, Level Designer.
- Scodonius: Story Team, Level Designer.

Current Developments

So far, what I have is this:

You play as Yourself (who is always adressed by NPCs as "you", "guy", or some other nutreul pronoun), who visits the Specter's Library here on Codrex Magna. After interacting with yours truly, You find Youself hurtling through a Dimensional Gate to the CoSPD: The City of Silver Pocket Dimension.

The game proceeds in an abandoned Saw Mill in the Charred Forest, solving incredibly complex MNOLG-style puzzles (Click this, drag this here, talk to this person, solve this puzzle, play this minigame, ect.) to pursue the mysterious Cheshire, a jester-like NPC, ( ) and return to Codrex Magna. Before long, it becomes appearent that only one member of Codrex Magna has ever set foot in the CoSPD, the Spectral mask himself, who often dwells in the City of Silver.

And so, You must journey to this City and ask the Specter for help, else be trapped in this dead world forever...

Planned Gameplay

Much like the Mata Nui Online Game, City of Silver centers around clicking objects with Action Blocks over them to interact with the world around you. However, I am torn by the difficulty of the puzzles; after all, the MNOLG was intended of its target audience (mainly children) and one of my favorit puzzle games, Myst, was far, far more difficult.

I also question the inclusion of minigames. The minigames in the MNOLG were interesting (Pohatu versus the Nui Jaga, the Guko Force, and the Defense of Kini Nui), but I feel they took away from the entire immersed feeling of the gameplay. After all, Myst and its sequels (which I continue to referense) had no minigames, and was much more immersive; you felt like you were really there. However, the graphics of Myst were superb, and NPC were played by live actors and many scenes were stills of real-life locatiosn or sets, and therefore more realistic.

Which, of course, leads me to my next dilema; actors and actresses. I have no draft for discussion sequences (Myst had a total of three characters and you barely spoke to any of them, so you never had to say anything; however, I intend to have many more characters and some text may be nessassary [something like the MNOLG?]) yet, but if I do end up using "click on what you want to say" or something similar, the NPCs might as well talk in text too.

Requirements

In order to play City of Silver, you will definetly need:

- Microsoft Office Powerpoint 2003 or better.

Now, what I'm distributing will be a read-only copy of a PowerPoint document that will need to me e-mailed and downloaded, so, if you don't trust me (which, I must point out, few of you have any reason to) don't participate. I am messing with the settings of this document so that people will not be able to cheat or edit the game when they play it. (Hence, read-only, and turning of kiosk, ect.), but our version will of course be editable, so I am trusting you if you trust me.

That brings me to my next point:

- To many chefs spoil the broth. We can only have so much staff, especially on the story team. I have my own idea for how the game is going to go, and I am a huge zealot. So, if you're thinking of just signing on to help with the plot, think again. Come to this team with something to contribue someplace other than the plot.

- You can't be suprised by a plot twist you thought up. Seriously. Some of you are better off playing this game, not making it. You can sign on to Bata-Test later (once the first chapter's done), but serously. There's no point in me making a game of Codrex Magna if all of Codrex Magna helped make it.

- I am the directer and head of story team. If I feel you're not contributing to City of Silver, I fire you. No jokes. Now, that doesn't mean I'm not open to new ideas, but suggesting we add in Cloud from Final Fantasy 7 (or, for that matter, give Krakua a cameo) and I say no, no complaining. The last thing anyone needs is a string of hate mail to me about how I should have included your memory puzzle.

- This is a Codrex Magna game. We aren't going to break the Scroll of Preperations. No porn, no swearing, no illegal referenses. Sorry.

- I am directer, but everyone else is equal. This whole section of the post sound mean, and the first half sounded desperate... What happened to beggers can't be choosers? Oh, well. My point is, I put myself in the head because I founded this team and thought up the game. I don't want to loose control. However, I won't be appointing a second-in-charge, so don't claim your idea is better than someone elses (even if it's true).

One last Begging-Fest.

Well, that's my little diabolical plan. If you can contribute in one or many ways (although everyone will wear a few hats, preticularly level designer and stroy, as I want everyone to design a few puzzles or add a plot twist or two.), please, post here. However, remember this is a game to be realised in chapters, and so we will know things other players don't, so don't post ideas for the end of the game or whatnot; PM the team spoilers.

Relict Antihero Posts : 206

I would like to note that since this is discussing a fan-made game not directly made by Codrex Magna or its creators, it can't be an "official topic". Sorry.

=|/-\|=

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

...I thought I counted as Codrex Magna staff...

Oh, whatever. In the meantime, does anyone else have any valid contributions? Once again, I need a few people with drawing skill, a few with editing skill, and anyone else willing to work on the Story Team and record sound effects.

Anyone?

Iron Tribe Plague Posts : 144

I have limited skills with image editing, and there is a small chance I might be able to help with programming depending on the programming language.

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

No programming langauge, actually. Unless you want to mess with the PowerPoint code, I think all the programming we need is in the "settings" pull-down menu in PowerPoint. As for image editing, I think we really need image artists. However, knowing you, Mogroth, you would make a valuable edition to the development team.

Do you (or anyone else) have any interest in the story-creating, puzzle-designing side of City of Silver development? And, more importantly, do you think you'll be on Codrex Magna often enough to contribute?

After all, programming comes last and graphics just before that; it's design we need right now.

Iron Tribe Plague Posts : 144

Okay. I might be able to do that. I'm not too good with code anyway. Would it work in MSOffice Web Apps? (You need a Live account) Because then we can collaborate and not have to continuously email copies of a PowerPoint as an attachment back and forth. Ah. I'm sorry. I misunderstood. I've never created images before. What programs are used? Things like GIMP and Paint.NET?
I'm not the creative type, really, so I most likely won't be able to help with those other areas.
Also, this is a time when I am considerably active compared to how inactive I normally am. But I start school at the end of August, and my time on here will be little to none throughout the school year, I predict. So I think the time to help would be now.

The Cold Mage Posts : 5869

Oi, sounds interesting.

However, my knowledge of computers ends at posting stuff.

I'd be more than happy to try and lend a hand in with the story team, though.

~A~

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

@ Mogroth: Eh, I don't have any images yet, but I'll use anything that comes my way. First, we need a slideshow "map": A virtual script of what happens when. School starts for me in August also, but I'll still be on pretty often. Never the less, if you can help with a few puzzles, it's all I ask.

@ Arty: C'mon, you can edit PowerPoints! In the meantime, I'm sure you can help with puzzles.

Edit: Mogroth and Arty have both been added to the staff list. They should be receiving a PM shortly.

Iron Tribe Plague Posts : 144

Okay. I will consider puzzles. But I have no idea what sort of puzzles you want. I'm sure I could Google the specific type of puzzle you had in mind and we could cite the person who made it in our credits or whatever. Or did you want us to design them completely ourselves?

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

Designing them yourself would certainly be preferable. How hard is it to make puzzles? By puzzles, I sort of mean the type you see in the MNOLG... here, watch a Myst walkthrough here on YouTube to get an idea of what I have in mind.

A little less complex, and little more... I'm sure we'll figure it out.

Iron Tribe Plague Posts : 144

Okay. I think the best way to understand Myst and to think of puzzles would be to get the game. Is it free? Do you know of anywhere I can get it?

The Cold Mage Posts : 5869

Free trial version for I-touch.

$5 for full version.

~A~

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

I'm afraid any version of the PC costs some cash, friend. There is a free version of I-Touch Arty mentioned, but that's the end of the line.

So, allow me:

The Mechanical Age Puzzle

As soon as you arrive on Myst, got up the stairs and look at Atrus's letter, instrcuting you to count the number of marker switches on Myst and input them in the imager. Once you've counted them, go to the library and click on the picture of the island. When a switch is turned on, an image of the location it's near will appear on the map.

Going back to wear to started on Myst, you can find a secret passage to the imager. Here, look behind yo to find a panel where you can input the number. Atrus's message appears, telling his wife, Catherine, that he hid several linking books in safe locations and to rotate the tower.

Now, go back to the library and click on the map again. Click on the tower on the map and drag it to point towards the Gears. Now, click on the picture of a tunnle. It will change to a picture of a bookcase and the actual bookcase becomes a tunnle to the tower.

In the tower, you find the following message: 2:40, 2,2,1. Go to the clock tower and look down to find the wheels. Turn the wheels so that the clock reads "2:40". Then, gears will appear leading you to the inner mechanisms of the clock.

Inside, you find three gears. The gears have numbers on the sides: 3,3,3. Pulling on levers makes the gears turn. One lever moves the top gear and middle gear, and the other turns the bottom gear and middle gear. You obviously want the gears to read "2,2,1", but this is difficult because both levers change the middle gear.

Once you reached "2,2,1". go to the gears. You'll find that the gears have moved and an alter has been opened with a linking book to the mechanical age.

Puzzles like that.

Iron Tribe Plague Posts : 144

Whoa. That's really complicated. I actually looked at a gameplay video for Myst on YouTube and I think I saw parts of the puzzle you were talking about. I can't think up something like that though. I can sometimes solve puzzles, but making them is a different story.

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

...no worries. We'll take it one step at a time.

As for the complications... anyone who knows me knows I like puzzles. And complications. I'm sure you can help out, and Arty and I (and whoever else joins up) will be able to fill out the bulk of the puzzles.

Iron Tribe Plague Posts : 144

Sure.
That sounds good. Have you made any puzzles yourself yet?

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

I do have ideas buzzing around...

For example, one idea I originally had was the Spectral Mask showing you the time on his watch. Then, you would see him write a series of numbers (the combonation to a lock or safe, for example) on his hand to remember. To get the numbers, simply ask him to see the time again and you'll see the numbers.

Another idea involved getting the Wind Mill to work, but we might still use that one, where as with the new "Power Outage" idea we've got going it's best to make my Library as simple as possible.

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

Spectral's first post after Mo: You're staff, you're just not a creator of the site.

See what Mo did there.

The rest: I have no clue. I think I'll just leave this up to Morgoth and AF and Spectral...

-|W|G|-

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

Very well. You'll have to play it, then (unless you decide not to download it. )

Funny, I could have sworn Scoddy was going to sign up eventually... where is he?

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

But of course it has to actually be complete before I play it.

-|W|G|-

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

Eh, Mogroth, Arty and I are still in basic design. We're argueing over what should be nessassary to unlock the Specter's Fortress, and we haven't decided on a proper villian.

The demo, however, will get you through the Saw Mill, Charred Forest, and to the City of Silver. However, you won't be able to exit. We'll then go realm by realm and complete the rest, updating as we go. Each time we update, of course, it'll be a new PowerPoint, but we will include a menu with chapters for coinvinience for those who can tell me the password at the end of each level (and, to those who try to skip ahead in the slide show to the end; it's read-only, so you can't edit it, and the passowrd will be well-hidden so you have to play through to understand. )

But first, basic design, and the Saw Mill alone will take time, let alone the forest and city...

The Before-Time Posts : 16

Sounds cool , can I help ? And what demo ? Suspect

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

Sure, bro, I'll add you to the Team.

And, the demo isn't finnished yet. It will basicly be the first two areas and then the "game hub". You will not be able to go to the other ten areas, just the Saw Mill, the Charred Forest, and the City of Silver.

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

Very well. I await the game, then...

-|W|G|-

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

Area Zero is now in development!

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

I have one thing to say to that:

"..."

-|W|G|-

The Cold Mage Posts : 5869

Oh Wally, be happy.

This could be the farthest he's gone on a project-*AAAAAAAAAAAAGH*

~A~

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

How do you know that that wasn't a happy ellipsis?

-|W|G|-

The Cold Mage Posts : 5869

A happy what?

~A~

Relict Antihero Posts : 206

I have to agree with AF's earlier post.

=|/-\|=

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

Actually, a few of my projects have made it further. VEZONICLE is pretty sucsessful, as are Slizers: Resurrected and Puppet Master. I doubt those will be going anywhere anytime soon.

As for Area Zero, the team and I are discussion the layout (it will be the breifest of the 13 areas), and then I will enter a hand-drawn image in, simplify it (make it solid black and solid white), straighten lines and otherwise perfect it in MS Paint, and fill it in in MS Paint. Then, I just upload it in Powerpoint, where I have already messed with the appopriate settings. I then scan in, simplify, perfect, and colour any objects and convert them into action buttons. Finally, I script the action buttons and add a few action buttons for navigation, and viola.

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

... Vezonicle died, then was completely remade, then stopped.

Slizers: Resurrected has only two posts.

Puppet Master did fairly well, then froze over.

As for Area Zero... okay then.

-|W|G|-

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

On the contrary. VEZONICLE, Slizers: Ressurected, and Puppet Master are still active. If you look in my blog entry, "What to Dread", you'll find that I am alternating between updates. Once Area Zero is complete, I'll update VEZONICLE, and keep moving down the list, leading up to the Internet Premire of "The Strife and Crimes of the Spectral Mask", a brand-new comedy series, which will premire in six parts.

I'm not that fail. Just way to organized. You'll get your VEZONICLE as soon as we finnish my Library.

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

*McFacepalm*

Only problem is, despite your reorganizations, you never seem to complete any of those projects.

-|W|G|-

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

VEZONICLE won't be complete until Vezon reunites Spherus Magna and defeats the evil Teridax, and that could be a while. Slizers Ressurected and Puppet Master will be stretched out as lon as I can keep coming up with new ideas.

It is my computer games I rarelt finnish. And yes, I occassionally re-start my epics, especially my musicals. But you, my friend, have yet to update the Tale.

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

I know they won't be complete for a long time. It's just that they haven't even been continued for a long time...

As for me and the Tale? Hey, I don't style myself the "Master of Fanfiction". You do.

Also, it's worth spending a lot of time on anything with THE MAN IN THE TURBAN in it...

-|W|G|-

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

...I have gone my many titles. Plague Doctor. Man in Black. The Banned Administrator. The Specter of Fanfiction. Head Librarian. Game Master. But I have never called myself the Master of Fanfiction.

THE MAN IN THE TURBAN is win, but the Tale killed the Specter's Last Dance, which is also the only epic of mine I've ever cut off (VEZONICLE 1 was killed because I moved from BAW to here, and Hacker! was killed for the same reason.) Therefore, it's yours and Mo's faults I didn't finnish it. That is the only project I recall ending.

Can we stop arguing, now? I'll even let you have the last word, but you're spamming up my topic.

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

Oops, sorry about the spam. Mild Surprise

Do you want me to move the posts to the Tale's review topic or something?

Head Librarian, then, or the Fanfiction Specter. I've never branded myself a literary figure.

Also, you've never explained how the Tale killed the Specter's Last Dance - I sure would have liked to see more of it.

-|W|G|-

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

Eh, I figured our two discriptions of each site would contradict each other.

Anyway, no, no need to move these posts. Just tell me; what do you want to see in this game? Any expectations? Complaints about other point and clicks you've played?

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

Not really. Once I have THE MAN IN THE TURBAN reach the Right Fortress of BZPower, I was going to incorporate your descriptions...

I'm no game developer, but one thing that always peeved me was when I was playing MNOLGII, it automatically skipped to the next chapter without holding the Kolhii match (or anything else important in Ga-Koro) at a certain time. So please don't make City of Silver skip at timed sections unless you've already completed the puzzles in your current area.

-|W|G|-

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

Myst III: Riven, did something very brilliant that I took inspiration from. In order to reach each new area, you had to find a symbol hidden in each area prior to it. However, the symbols couldn't be copied from memory; the player had to find the symbol, and it would automatically be drawn on a peice of paper, and then the paper could be used to unlock the next area.

I intend to hide said symbol, in this case a password, in each area. You will not be able to proceed to the next area unles you PM a distributor of that area your password.

Would that work?

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

That would be better than timing the sections then automatically skipping, but it sounds odd... Also, I don't see how the symbols couldn't be drawn from memory.

-|W|G|-

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

'Twas rather cheap, what they did, actually. Watch a walkthrough and see what I mean.

The password mainly serves to make sure you folks aren't cheating. It has no in-game value. Just a series of questions with one-letter answers (i.e., what is the letter hidden on the celing of the library?) that form a password. I haven't worked out the exact system yet, but it'll be simple.

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

Yeah, what you said.

-|W|G|-

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

...why do so many people use hidden text? Everyone can see it, they only need an account.

Anyway, progress on City of Silver has pretty much come to a standstill. There are currently only two people on the story team who are ever on (myself and Arty). Mogroth is swamped in homework and Scoddy has school, then orcestra, then homework, and then hockey.

Arty and I are in dispute about something, and we need a fifth to settle the debate. Hopefully, Scoddy'll get on over the weekend...

Mysterious Figure Posts : 8336

Also, is this some veiled attempt to get me to download something?[/paranoia/Mo]

-|W|G|-

Relict Antihero Posts : 206

Yes, Wally. It is.

Also, Area Zero seems to have made zero progress...[/impatient]

=|/-\|=

The Cold Mage Posts : 5869

Uh, yeah, well....

For some reason, Spectral didn't get my PMs on it, and MORGOTH (THATS HOW YOU SPELL IT, SPECTRAL) hasn't been on in...

*Looks at watch*

Ever.

~A~

Relict Antihero Posts : 206

And of course Spectral says that it must be done before any of his other projects continue...

But yes, Morgoth has not been on for a very long time.

=|/-\|=

Head Librarian & Game Master Posts : 3659

Very well.

This will most likely be continued over the holidays, at worst over the summer. I intend to be productive on it in the meantime by learning a new programming language to upgrade its technology. In the meantime, I shall update Puppet Master and go on my updated list (see my blog for more details).

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